---
title: "Accel Bets Big on Globally Minded Indian Founders: Atoms Returns with AI and LeapTech Focus"
description: Accel expands Atoms to back Indian founders with global ambitions as venture capital and AI funding shift, highlighting cross-border startup momentum
author: Darie Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2025-07-11T11:00:00.000Z
updated: 2026-02-26T17:55:15.308Z
canonical: https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/accel-bets-big-on-globally-minded-indian-founders-atoms-returns-with-ai-and-leaptech-focus
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/accel-atoms-cross-border-investments-india-ai.webp
categories: Finance
content_type: News
region: India
publication: Sovereign Magazine
about:
  - type: Organization
    name: Accel
    description: "Accel is a global venture capital firm and the first partner to exceptional teams everywhere, from inception through all phases of private company growth. Its investments include Atlassian, Bumble, CrowdStrike, Flipkart, Freshworks, Qualtrics, Scale, Segment, Slack, Spotify, Squarespace, Tenable, and UiPath, among others. Accel helps ambitious entrepreneurs build iconic global businesses. For more information please visit: https://www.accel.com/"
    url: https://www.accel.com/
---

While venture capital remains cautious across many sectors, Accel’s doubling down on Indian founders with global ambitions signals where smart money sees the next wave of wins. The firm’s expanded Atoms programme, now offering up to $1 million and $5 million in partner perks across two specialist tracks, arrives at a opportune moment for cross-border investment flows.

![Prayank Swaroop Partner at Accel 1024x682](https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/Prayank-Swaroop-Partner-at-Accel-1024x682.webp)

![Anand Daniel Partner at Accel 683x1024](https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/Anand-Daniel-Partner-at-Accel-683x1024.webp)

![Pratik Agarwal Partner at Accel 1024x682](https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/Pratik-Agarwal-Partner-at-Accel-1024x682.webp)

India’s venture capital funding rebounded strongly to [$13.7 billion in 2024](https://www.bain.com/insights/india-venture-capital-report-2025/), representing a 1.4x increase from 2023 levels. More tellingly, US-India cross-border AI investments surged 180% to $4.7 billion in 2023, driven by what investors increasingly recognise as a talent and market access advantage that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.

This isn’t just about Indian founders building for Indian markets. Accel’s latest move explicitly targets Indian and Indian-origin founders worldwide who are building global products from inception – a strategy that’s showing results in a funding environment where [AI startups captured over half](https://news.crunchbase.com/venture/global-funding-strong-q1-2025-ai-data/) of the $113 billion in global startup funding during Q1 2025.

## The Cross-Border Execution Play

Prayank Swaroop, Partner at Accel, puts it plainly: ‘We’re seeing a fundamental change where Indian founders in AI are moving to global markets earlier than ever before, to be closer to their first customers. These founders understand that while AI is borderless, execution isn’t.’

It’s this execution advantage that has Accel convinced. The firm’s thesis centres on Indian founders who tap into India’s talent pool while hunting for customers in developed markets from day one. The approach bypasses the traditional path of building locally first, then expanding internationally – a route that often leaves startups playing catch-up with better-funded Western competitors.

Anand Daniel, also Partner at Accel, frames it in competitive terms: ‘Indian and Indian-origin founders are right at the centre of the inflection point in AI. The success of companies like Ema and Bridgetown Research shows us that founders tapping into the cross-border advantage – building what customers want, with great speed, and while tapping into the breadth and depth of India’s talent pool – can beat global competition by a significant margin.’

The data supports this confidence. [AI-enabled startups captured 62%](https://hitconsultant.net/2025/07/07/ai-dominates-digital-health-investment-in-first-half-2025/) of digital health venture funding in the first half of 2025, with average Series A and Series B deal sizes of $24.4 million and $54.8 million respectively – significantly higher than non-AI companies. This mirrors broader trends where [AI companies challenge established players](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/china-s-deepseek-takes-on-us-tech-giants-what-this-means-for-project-stargate) with smarter algorithms and cost-effective approaches.

## Two Tracks, Different Timelines

Accel’s approach splits into two distinct programmes. Atoms AI targets founders building across the AI stack, from foundational models to business applications. The focus remains on immediate global market entry, with startups receiving capital, mentorship and crucially, the network access needed to navigate cross-border complexities.

Atoms X takes a different approach entirely. Led by Pratik Agarwal, this track backs what Accel calls ‘LeapTech’ – companies building significant breakthroughs in technology, product or business models that typically require longer development cycles. This aligns with the growing trend of [purpose-driven entrepreneurs](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/mike-galgon-supports-new-breed-of-entrepreneurs-driven-by-purpose) who prioritise long-term impact over quick returns.

‘LeapTech ideas often take years of iteration before product-market fit is clear – but their ability to fundamentally reshape how we live or build is unmistakable,’ Agarwal explains. ‘With Atoms X, we’re moving beyond the traditional cohort model to back founders right at the inception whether they’re still refining the idea or pre-revenue.’

The track record here matters. [Sarla Aviation](https://www.sarla-aviation.com/news-stories/sarla-raises-10m-from-accel-nikhil-kamath-and-pioneers/), an Atoms alumnus developing flying taxis for urban mobility, recently raised $10 million in Series A1 funding led by Accel. The startup, founded in 2024, plans to launch its prototype in January 2025 and reach market by 2028 – exactly the long-term thinking that traditional accelerators struggle to support.

## Breaking the Cohort Model

How Accel’s approach differs from traditional accelerators isn’t just the cheque size or sector focus. Most [leading accelerators in 2025](https://startupsavant.com/best-startup-accelerators) still operate on cohort-based models, with fixed-duration programmes running a few times yearly. Startups apply in batches, progress through structured mentorship and aim for a Demo Day finale.

Accel’s Atoms programme flips this entirely. Applications remain open year-round, with no long forms or mandatory Zoom calls. Co-founders can apply together, and support begins immediately rather than waiting for the next cohort start date. For founders building in fast-moving sectors like AI, this flexibility can mean the difference between catching market timing and missing it entirely.

The traditional cohort model offers peer learning and structured intensity, but it also means startups must fit into predetermined schedules. For LeapTech companies that might need two years to reach meaningful milestones, or AI startups racing to capture market share, this rigid timing often works against natural development cycles.

## Reading the Investment Tea Leaves

For investors watching these moves, Accel’s programme expansion suggests selective optimism rather than broad market recovery. The firm isn’t betting on all sectors – it’s making calculated bets on specific founder profiles building in specific areas.

The focus on Indian founders with global ambitions reflects a broader trend in venture capital. With Silicon Valley valuations remaining elevated and competition for deals intense, investors are increasingly looking at founder arbitrage – backing talented entrepreneurs who can build comparable products at lower costs while targeting the same high-value markets. This approach contrasts with markets like the UK, where [tech founders drive record growth](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/uk-tech-founders-drive-record-1-million-plus-growth-ventures-in-2025) through domestic scaling first.

This approach has already generated meaningful returns. Since launching in 2021, Accel Atoms has backed over 40 early-stage startups, many of which have raised significant follow-on funding. The programme’s alumni include companies like Wiom, Haber and Posha, alongside the more widely known successes like Ema and Bridgetown Research.

The question for other investors is whether this represents a sustainable advantage or simply a temporary arbitrage opportunity. As more venture firms recognise the potential of cross-border Indian founders, competition for the best deals will inevitably increase, potentially eroding the cost advantages that make this approach attractive. India’s focus on [cost-effective AI model expansion](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/india-seeks-cost-effective-ai-model-expansion-as-gpu-scarcity-spurs-cpu-based-solutions) through CPU-based solutions suggests this advantage may persist longer than expected.

## What to Watch Next

The success of Accel’s expanded programme will likely influence how other major venture firms approach early-stage investing, particularly in AI and advanced technology sectors. If the non-cohort model proves more effective at supporting founder success, expect to see other accelerators abandon their traditional batch approaches.

More immediately, the response from founders will indicate whether the market has room for another well-funded programme targeting this demographic. With applications now open at [atoms.accel.com](https://atoms.accel.com), the volume and quality of applications should provide early signals about demand.

For investors, the longer-term question is whether Accel’s thesis about cross-border Indian founders proves correct. If these entrepreneurs can consistently outperform their Western counterparts while building for global markets, expect to see more venture capital flow toward this opportunity. The alternative – that geographic arbitrage advantages prove temporary – would suggest a different investment environment altogether.

Either way, Accel’s bet represents a clear view on where venture capital sees the next generation of category-defining companies emerging. For founders fitting this profile, the timing couldn’t be better. For everyone else, it’s another reminder that in venture capital, picking the right founders often matters more than picking the right sectors.

**About Accel**

Accel is a global venture capital firm and the first partner to exceptional teams everywhere, from inception through all phases of private company growth. Its investments include Atlassian, Bumble, CrowdStrike, Flipkart, Freshworks, Qualtrics, Scale, Segment, Slack, Spotify, Squarespace, Tenable, and UiPath, among others. Accel helps ambitious entrepreneurs build iconic global businesses. For more information please visit: https://www.accel.com/

[Website](https://www.accel.com/)